Denture construction



May24,1938. M. IF'FEN- j 118,555

DENTURE CONSTRUCTION A Filed July 1, 1936 INVENTOP JAMES f. G/FFE/V W MTM A7 7' OP/VEYS.

Patented May 24, 1938 I t r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,118,555 DENTURE CONSTRUCTION James Franklin Giifen, London, Ontario, Canada Application July 1, 1936, Serial No. 88,464

1 Claim. (01. 32-4) This invention relates to denture construcited relative movement between the parts, comtion and more particularly to lingual bars for use pr es a b furcated end 3 n the p 2 embracin connection therewith. The invention is espe ing the adjacent end of the part I as indicated cially, though not exclusively, suitable for use in Figures 2 and 3- A P 4 is rigidly mounted 5 in lower partial denture constructions, where in the par llel lugs f rmin th bif r at nd both sides are to be supported by the soft tissue 3 of the part 2. The end of the part I is mounted or mucous membrane of the lower ridge, or on the pin 4 so as to be capable of moving relawhere the denture is to be partly supported by tively to the part 2, this being preferably accomthe soft tissue and partly by the existing teeth. plished y providing e d 01 p I With a hort In such cases the two sides of the denture vertical slot 5 of substantially the same width 10 settle unequally, and this unequal settlement noras the diameter of the pin 3, and of slightly mally sets up a considerable strain or stress on greater length. With this arrangement the parts the anchor teeth, thus causing discomfort and I and 2 can move relatively to each other in a reducing the efiiciency and the useful life of the vertical direction as shown in Figure 5 or with denture and of the remaining natural teeth. a rotary motion as indicated in Figure 6, or with 15 The object of the present invention is to overany combined vertical and rotary motion within come this disadvantage and with this end in view the limits permitted by the slot 5. the invention provides means whereby the vari- The improved lingual bar is illustrated as apous parts of the denture may automatically adplied to a partial denture construction 6, I, held just themselves in relation to each other within place by clips 8 and 9 with respect to the nat- 20 out imposing any appreciable stress on the anural teeth which are indicated in dotted lines at chor teeth. According to the present invention Ill. The invention can of course be applied to a the parts of the denture are connected by a lingreat variety of denture constructions. gual bar comprising a plurality of parts which It will be understood that the foregoing deare so connected together as to permit them to scription and accompanying drawing are given 25 be capable of limited movement relative to each by way of example only and that modification other both in a vertical and a rotary direction. within the scope of the appended claim may be Referring now to the accompanying drawing, resorted to without departing from the spirit of which illustrates, by way of example, one conventhe invention.

ient embodiment of the invention, What I claim is: 30

Figure 1 is a side elevation partially in section A lingual bar comprising a plurality of parts 011 the line of Figure and means for so connecting said parts as to pere 2 S a P View Of the improved c mit them to move relatively to each other either the natural teeth being indicated in t d l s, bodily in a vertical direction or in a rotary direc- Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation or with a combined vertical and rotary move- 35 tion showing the joint in the lingual bar in norment, characterized in that the adjacent ends of ma] position, the parts of the bar are loosely pivoted to each Figure 4 is a plan view of the device shown other so as to be capable of a limited relative in Figure 3, and movement in the plane of said parts, and where- Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 3 in the end of one of the parts is bifurcated and 40 but showing the parts of the lingual bar displaced the end of the other part projects into said biin relation to each other. furcation, one of said ends carrying a pin which The improved lingual bar is made in two parts, extends through a vertical slot formed. in the for example as shown at I and 2. As illustrated, other end. the arrangement for permitting the desired lim- JAMES FRANKLIN GIFFEN. 45 

